Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations
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69% Critic Match

Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations

6.9 / 10 1938 2h 7mNR German
Documentary

Storyline

Starting with a long and lyrical overture, evoking the origins of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, Riefenstahl covers twenty-one athletic events in the first half of this two-part love letter to the human body and spirit, culminating with the marathon, where Jesse Owens became the first track and field athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.

Cast & Crew

David Albritton

David Albritton

Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited)

Lead
AA

Arvo Askola

Self - 10000 Metres, Finland (uncredited)

Jack Beresford

Jack Beresford

Self - Carries British Flag (uncredited)

EB

Erwin Blask

Self - Hammer Throw, Germany (uncredited)

SB

Sulo Bärlund

Self - Shot Put, Finland (uncredited)

IC

Ibolya Csák

Self - High Jump, Hungary (uncredited)

GC

Glenn Cunningham

Self (uncredited)

Henri de Baillet-Latour

Henri de Baillet-Latour

Self - IOC, Stands with Hitler, with Hurdlers (uncredited)

What People Are Saying

4.0
A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Leni Riefenstahl's vision lands with breathtaking precision.
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
3.0
Every frame feels alive. Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker